Legal Resume Examples

Discover the top ATS-friendly legal resume examples designed to highlight your legal expertise and professional accomplishments. Find a resume that matches your job title and use it as a reference point to write yours.

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Contract Law

Contract law involves drafting, reviewing, and negotiating legally binding agreements between parties.

Construction Manager

Construction Superintendent

Construction Supervisor

Safety Manager

Site Manager

Corporate Law

Corporate law focuses on the formation, governance, and operation of corporations. This includes mergers and acquisitions, compliance, and corporate finance.

Carpenter

Electrician

HVAC Technician

Mason

Painter
Plumber
Roofer
Welder

Criminal Law

Criminal law involves the prosecution or defense of individuals accused of committing crimes, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.

Carpenter

Electrician

HVAC Technician

Mason

Painter
Plumber
Roofer
Welder

Employment and Labor Law

Employment and labor law addresses issues between employers and employees, including workplace rights, discrimination, and union activities.

Carpenter

Electrician

HVAC Technician

Mason

Painter
Plumber
Roofer
Welder

Environmental Law

Environmental law deals with regulations and issues related to the environment, such as pollution control, natural resource management, and sustainability.

Family Law

Family law focuses on matters related to family relationships. For instance, divorce, child custody, and adoption.

General Legal Roles

This general sector includes broad roles within the legal field. 

Carpenter

Electrician

HVAC Technician

Mason

Painter
Plumber
Roofer
Welder

Healthcare Law

Healthcare law encompasses the legal aspects of healthcare. This includes regulatory compliance, patient rights, and medical malpractice.

Immigration Law

Immigration law revolves around visas, citizenship, and deportation proceedings.

Carpenter

Electrician

HVAC Technician

Mason

Painter
Plumber
Roofer
Welder

Intellectual Property Law

Intellectual property law protects the rights of creators and inventors, covering patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Carpenter

Electrician

HVAC Technician

Mason

Painter
Plumber
Roofer
Welder
Content-focused formatting

Use an ATS-Optimized Legal Resume Template

Start building your legal resume using one of our professional legal resume templates. These are all optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and made to emphasize your expertise.

Standard

Ultimate readability and well-organized layout. Highlights what matters the most. A safe pick for all jobs across all industries.

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Simple

Negative space gives readers breathing room and guides their eyes to where you want them to go. Simplicity = sophistication.

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Basic

A design familiar for recruiters and hiring managers. Good for corporate positions where you’ll need to paint within the lines.

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Minimalist

Maximizes page space for dense information. Ideal for seasoned professionals with a lot to say in a limited area.

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Go beyond examples of resumes

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No more worrying about whether the design and format of your resume meets the company’s applicant tracking system requirements. Use one of our professional ATS resume templates now to build your resume and secure your next job interview.

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Common Legal Job Responsibilities 

  • Conduct legal research and analysis to identify applicable laws, regulations, and precedents.
  • Draft legal documents, such as contracts, briefs, motions, and complaints.
  • Advocate for clients in court appearances, hearings, and negotiations.
  • Interview clients and witnesses to gather information and build strong cases.
  • Manage legal cases, meeting deadlines and adhering to court procedures.
  • Communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, judges, and opposing counsel.
  • Stay up-to-date on legal developments and changes in the law.
  • Conduct legal due diligence for transactions or business deals (depending on the area of law).
  • Advise clients on their legal rights and options (depending on the area of law).
  • Represent clients in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings (e.g., mediation, arbitration). (depending on the role)
  • Manage and supervise legal staff (depending on seniority).

Legal Resume Skills

A strong legal resume should showcase your ability to analyze complex legal issues, translate them into clear and persuasive communication, and effectively advocate for your clients.

Hard skills

  • Case management 
  • Contract drafting 
  • Legal research and analysis
  • Legal writing
  • Legal knowledge (of a specific area of law)
  • Litigation support
  • Proficiency in legal research databases
  • Proficiency in legal software 
  • Statutory and regulatory compliance

Soft skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Initiative
  • Legal ethics and professionalism
  • Negotiation 
  • Organization
  • Teamwork 
  • Time management

Examples of Legal Resume Achievements

  • Securing favorable outcomes for clients: showcase a successful legal outcome you achieved for a client. 
  • Reducing legal costs: highlight your contributions to minimizing legal expenses for a client. 
  • Resolving complex legal dispute: describe a challenging legal dispute or problem you solved for a client. 
  • Receiving positive recognition: mention any type of positive recognition or award you received for your efforts. 
  • Juggling multiple cases: share your ability to handle a heavy workload. 
  • Developing strong client relationships: emphasize your ability to build rapport with clients. 
  • Successfully advocating for clients in court: describe a successful courtroom appearance. 
  • Increasing efficiency of legal processes: share how you streamlined legal procedures.
  • Mentoring junior staff: discuss your experience guiding others. 
  • Presenting legal findings or arguments: mention presentations you delivered to clients, colleagues, or courts. 

Best Action Verbs for Legal Resumes

  • Advocated for 
  • Advised 
  • Analyzed 
  • Argued 
  • Authored 
  • Conducted 
  • Conferenced 
  • Counseled 
  • Drafted 
  • Edited 
  • Ensured 
  • Facilitated 
  • Identified 
  • Interviewed 
  • Litigated 
  • Maintained 
  • Mediated 
  • Negotiated
  • Prepared 
  • Presented 
  • Proofread 
  • Researched 
  • Resolved
  • Reviewed 
  • Revised
  • Secured
  • Supervised
  • Translated
  • Wrote 

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Land your dream legal job with a resume that makes your expertise clear. Our AI resume builder helps you create a compelling legal resume in a format that even hiring systems can read and rank highly. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about using Rezi's Templates and Resume Builder.

What’s the best format for a legal resume?

The reverse-chronological resume format is the best option.  This format highlights your most recent experience first, clarifying your career progression and relevant roles. Start with a strong summary or objective, followed by your professional experience, education, and key skills. Include any certifications, bar admissions, and notable achievements. Use clear headings, bullet points, and concise language to ensure your resume is easy to read and professional.

How long should a legal resume be?

The ideal length of a legal resume is between one or two pages long. Keep it as short as possible by only highlighting the most relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments. When you have extensive experience, certifications, and achievements to write about, two pages should be more than enough. 

Where should I list volunteer legal work? 

List volunteer legal work in a dedicated "Volunteer Experience" section. Use action verbs to start your bullet points and then describe tasks you carried out followed by any significant achievements. Focus on demonstrating how your volunteering experience strengthened your legal skills and knowledge. 

What if I have no legal work experience?

If you have no work experience in the legal field, focus on your qualifications. List academic achievements, relevant coursework, internships, projects, and any volunteer work related to the legal field. Prioritize showcasing transferable skills such as research, writing, and critical thinking. Mention any leadership roles that demonstrate your ability to communicate and present effectively. Lastly, match the job description by using keywords when describing duties and accomplishments. 

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Boost your career prospects with an ATS-optimized Legal resume. Get started now for free! 

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